Cal Poly Pomona Pumpkin Festival Opens Oct. 4
The pumpkins are coming! Cal Poly Pomona’s annual Pumpkin Festival, a Pomona Valley tradition, will host fall fun with activities and pumpkins galore on weekends Oct. 4 to Oct. 26. The family-friendly event is marking its 32nd year with 30,000 student-grown pumpkins and a variety of activities.
Visitors can celebrate fall in the gigantic pumpkin field, finding the perfect pumpkin and enjoying hay rides, the corn maze, the petting farm, the Cow Train pulled by an antique tractor, a children’s activity area and the sunflower patch.
New attractions will include glassblowing (first two weekends only) and blacksmith demonstrations, a make-your-own sunflower bouquet activity and grazing cattle. The event will also have new food and beverage options, new vendors, more shade and seating. Additional performances and activities include the Cal Poly Pomona Pep Band (Oct. 4), Drivin’ Mama Crazy band (Oct. 11-12) and line dancing (Oct. 18-19).
Ticketing will change this year. There will be a flat admission fee of $20 per person. Children 2 years old and under are free. Admission will include the pumpkin patch, hay ride, corn maze, cow train, sunflower patch and visiting the animals in the petting farm. The admission fee does not include pumpkins or petting farm feed cups.
Pumpkins prices will range from $6 to $10 for those on the hill. Specialty pumpkins, gourds and gigantic pumpkins are available from the Farm Store.
The fall festivities take place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday in October, at Kellogg Ranch, in front of the Cal Poly Pomona Farm Store (4102 S. University Drive, Pomona, CA 91783).
Tickets . The event is primarily cashless for pumpkins and admission. Food and craft vendors will still accept cash. All major credit cards and Apple Pay will be accepted.
“This year’s Pumpkin Festival has new attractions and a new layout,” said Ethan Orr, dean of the Huntley College of Agriculture, which organizes the event. “But at its heart, it’s still the same event that generations of Southern Californians have grown to love and make an annual fall tradition. We hope that people will also learn something about our region’s agricultural heritage and what we do as a college.”
Limited parking is available in the main field with overflow parking available in parking lots across the street from Pumpkin Festival on West Temple Avenue and South Campus Drive. Handicapped parking is adjacent to the event in Lot U on South Campus Drive.
Field Trips
Each year, thousands of school children visit the pumpkin patch with their classroom, Scout troops and other community groups. Sign-ups for Field Trips are now being accepted. Visit the website to reserve a spot or get more information on the field trips.
All proceeds help support the Cal Poly Pomona Huntley College of Agriculture’s farm operations, student clubs, and outreach activities.
